Meet the team at Lakefields Neurological Centre
Margrid Jeffries
Care Centre Director
Margrid has more than 20 years’ experience in health and senior management. She has worked and studied both in the UK and internationally and holds a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Adult Nursing and a Master of Science (MSc) in Public Health from the University of Tartu in Estonia. She also completed her Master of Laws (LLM) in 2022 at the University of Edinburgh. After working as a nurse in Estonia and Finland she moved to the UK in 2014. Margrid swiftly progressed to more senior positions across the NHS and independent sector including Divisional Matron, Senior Consultant, and Director of Clinical Services. She is passionate about allowing the team the freedom to innovate, embrace new challenges and progress their careers. Margrid is committed to working with residents, their families and a team of care staff who will go ‘above and beyond’ to deliver the highest standards of complex nursing care and person-centred rehabilitation. With her extensive clinical, neurological and management experience, she is an approachable and well-balanced leader who has the confidence and compassion required to lead the specialist Multidisciplinary Team at Lakefields.
Janet Pandit
Deputy Care Centre Director
Janet Pandit is a registered general nurse who qualified in India in 2005 with diplomas in Nursing, Midwifery and Critical Care Adult Nursing. She also holds a nursing registration from the Middle East which allowed her to work as an Adult Critical Care Nurse across Oman and Muscat. The 12 years spent working as a Senior Intensive Care Nurse for the Ministry of Health in Iman underpins Janet’s keen interest in clinical governance, quality audits and compliance. Janet’s extensive clinical background along with the Care Centre’s Directors expertise will ensure the best possible clinical services are delivered at all times. After moving to the UK in 2017, she worked at The Princess Alexandra Hospital until she joined Elysium in May 2024. During that time Janet continued with her studies which culminated in being awarded Respiratory Specialist Status from the National Nursing Council. This supported her role as a non-invasive ventilator nurse and developed her interest in neurological care and rehabilitation. Janet who has more than 20 years of nursing experience is a compassionate Clinical Nurse Manager who believes in the importance of both staff training and staff wellbeing. She will work with every member of the nursing team to develop their full potential ensuring they are proud of the difference they make to the care provided at Lakefields.
Joy Smyth
Specialist Neurological Physiotherapist
Joy comes to Lakefields as an experienced Specialist Neurological Physiotherapist with more than 20 years of clinical experience in a wide range of neurological conditions. She graduated as a Physiotherapist from Arellano University Manila, Philippines in March 2001 and worked as a Senior Physiotherapist at a Neurological Therapeutic Clinic until moving to England in June 2008. Once Joy achieved her UK registration, she progressed to Physiotherapy Team Lead for The Marillac Neurological Care Centre in Essex. She has extensive experience of implementing advanced rehabilitation programmes, tailored to people with complex neurological conditions, which enhance physical well-being and quality of life. In addition to her clinical work, Joy has contributed to the academic field through her role of Practice Educator at both the University of Essex and St. Georges University, London. Joy was delighted when the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy selected a short paper to publish in Frontline Magazine in June 2021. She is confidant, cheerful and empathetic and continues to be inspired on a daily basis by the progress of the individuals she works with. With her special interest in spasticity, postural and wheelchair management, Joy is committed to furthering the field of neurorehabilitation and to being a mentor for colleagues starting on their physiotherapy careers.
Alina Bidgood
Dietitian
Alina who previously worked in investment banking, qualified as a Dietician from the London Metropolitan University in 2016. This change of direction came about when she realised she wanted a more rewarding career in which she could make a difference to people’s lives. Since qualifying she has worked across the NHS as a community dietician supporting people with Diabetes and Gastrointestinal conditions and as a Specialist Oncology Dietitian. Alina furthered her clinical experience at Goodmayes Stroke Rehabilitation Unit where she provided tailor made feeding regimes to meet the nutritional needs of neurological patients who are tube fed. She is passionate about collaborating with the catering team at Lakefield’s to ensure that residents’ quality of life is improved, and nutritional goals are met.
Tracey Mottershead
Occupational Therapist
Tracey qualified in her home country of New Zealand after graduating in 2017 in Occupational Therapy BSc (Hons) Degree. As well as being a member of the professional body Royal College of Occupational Therapy (RCOT), Tracey is immensely proud to volunteer for them and belong to the World Federation of Occupational Therapy (WFOT). She chose to become an OT after working in elderly care where she was inspired by the work of the occupational therapy team and the outcomes that residents achieved. As a new graduate she moved to Australia and worked in the private sector (elderly care) before relocating to the United Kingdom in 2019. Tracey who has worked across the NHS (Mid and South Essex Hospitals) and private sector for the last five years has extensive knowledge and experience in a wide range of neurological conditions. She is excited to be part of the Lakefield’s therapy team as it allows her to apply her experience from previous roles including lead OT for acute stroke units, and respiratory critical care. She enjoys collaborating with both the person and their family in designing individualised programmes that improve or restore function to activities of daily living (ADLs), and providing cognitive retraining to enhance quality of life. Tracey sees ongoing education and continued professional development as important to the delivery of up- to-date and innovative therapeutic OT interventions. She is currently studying sensory integration with Sheffield Hallam University and has recently completed modules in neurosciences. As a firm believer that staff wellbeing is hugely important in the provision of safe and effective clinical services, Tracey finds time outside of work to enjoy her allotment, make homemade bread and watch her favourite sport, Rugby.